Boss & Co, 73 St James’s Street, London
12 bore Bar Action, Sidelock Ejector
No 4246, No 2 of a Pair
 Date of manufacture: 1893

   
   

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Heritage Guns' Comment
This superb gun was made shortly after John Robertson bought Boss & Company and developed it into probably the most exclusive London gunmaker of its time. With its toplever, baraction locks and superb Sumner engraving, this gun represents the departure from Robertson’s predecessor, EF Paddison’s very traditional preference for back actions, sidelevers and rotary underlevers.
On taking over Boss & Co, Robertson changed the style of the guns to appeal to more modern tastes and this gun reflects many of the changes he introduced although interestingly, it is not stocked to the fences.
The gun had been rebarrelled in 1978 and proofed for 2 ½” ammunition so we have had the gun reproofed for 2 ¾” ammunition and following a sensitive restoration, we are pleased to be able to offer a beautifully balanced gun for game or clays.
Presented in a relined oak & leather case complete with Maker’s labels
and some accessories including a striker pot with spare strikers.


WE REGRET THAT THIS GUN IS NOW SOLD. IF YOU ARE SEARCHING FOR A SIMILAR GUN, PLEASE CONTACT US.   

The action is of normal baraction design and features:
Double triggers bolted by an automatic top tang safety slide;
Chequered front trigger blade;
9 pin, bar action locks; Robertson’s ‘Spear’ interceptor sears;
Toplever operating a 'Purdey Bolt' by way of a Scott Spindle;
Robertson's patent ejector
and Anson forend catch.
Gun weight 6lb 8oz 
Engraving style Very Best Bouquet & Scroll engraving by John Sumner;
Beaded fences; Top rib, toplever and  forend tip with gold inlaid ‘2’.
Gold inlaid ‘SAFE’. Action bar engraved ‘BOSS’S PATENT EJECTOR’.
Top rib engraved ‘Barrels For Boss Gun No 4246’.
Trigger pulls measure approximately: Front trigger 3 ¾ lb Rear trigger 4 ½ lbs.
The replacement steel barrels are 28" in length, chambered for 2 3/4" (70mm) cartridges
and are of brazed 'dovetail' construction with soft soldered ribs.
The barrelmaker has stamped his mark ‘VS’ under extractors
and ‘LONDON’ is stamped on each flat.
Top rib is of the smooth, concave game type.
Birmingham reproof for 70mm nitro powder cartridges in 2020.

Approximate barrel measurements at date of publication:

 
Nominal Proof Size
Bore Diameter 9" from Breech
Minimum Wall Thickness
Choke Constriction
Right Barrel
18.5mm (0.728")
0.731"
0.032"
0.010" (IC)
Left Barrel
18.6mm (0.732")
0.732"
0.027"
0.020" (Mod)

Straight Hand Stock and Splinter Forend is crafted from highly figured walnut, thought to be original or possibly a vintage replacement. The stock is lightly cast-off for a right-handed shot, features a vacant white metal oval and well defined drop points and is finished with a chequered butt. There is a very small inlet repair to the edge of the left underhorn. The forend wood has two inlet repairs to its edge and features a finely engraved steel tip and diamond.
Highly Figured Walnut

The approx 26 lines per inch chequering has been refreshed to its original sidelock pattern.
.The stock is finished with a traditional linseed oil based preparation as used on best guns by one of the top English makers. This finish uses no grain fillers to achieve its deep, smooth lustre, only many hours of alternate build and flatting off of the surface.

Approximate stock measurements at date of publication:

Pull to Heel
Pull to Bump
Pull to Centre
Pull to Toe
14 5/8"
14 7/8"
14 7/8"
15 1/8"
Drop at Comb
Drop at Face
Drop at Heel
1 7/16"
1 5/8"
2 1/16"
Cast at Comb
Cast at Heel
1/8" approx.
3/8" approx.

For the purposes of these measurements, 'Drop at Face' is the 'drop' measurement taken on a line perpendicular to the
line joining the trigger and centre of the butt at approximately 8" from the trigger (front trigger on a double trigger gun).

Patents Exhibited include:
Holland & Robertson's ejector patent no. 16691 of 1888;
 'Purdey Bolt' patent no. 1104 of 1863;
 'Scott Spindle' patent no. 2752 of 1865;
 Anson's forend fastener patent no. 3791 of 1872.